Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam dam
Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam
Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam, located in Gwinn, Michigan, is a privately owned dam on Green Creek that was completed in 1975. Standing at a height of 30 feet, this earth dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and boasts a storage capacity of 5,800 acre-feet. With a surface area of 42 acres and a controlled spillway, the dam has a low hazard potential and was last inspected in September 2016, with a satisfactory condition assessment.
Managed by the Michigan DEGLE, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in Marquette County. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam is rated as very high (1), highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The dam's location, design, and regulatory oversight make it a key component of the local water infrastructure, supporting various purposes beyond flood control and water supply.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam engineering, regulatory compliance, and risk management. As part of the Detroit District's portfolio, this structure underscores the intricate balance between human development and environmental protection, showcasing the critical role that dams play in shaping water systems and landscapes. With its long history and continued operational relevance, this dam serves as a reminder of the interconnected challenges and opportunities in sustainable water resource management.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Michigamme River Near Crystal Falls | 1,430 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road Pfj Tilden Township
- West Crooked Lake Lane Forsyth Township
- Greenwood Reservoir Road Ely Township
- West Knudsen Road Forsyth Township
- County Road Exa Gwinn
- Old County Road 510 Negaunee Township
Campgrounds
- Private Camp
- Bass Lake State Forest Campground (Marquette)
- Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground
- Rippling River Resort
- West Branch State Forest Campground
- Little Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Net River Mainstem, Confluence With East/West Branches To Confluence With The Mainstem Paint River
- Brule Lake In Ne1/4 Sec 15, T41n, R13e To Forest Boundary In Se1/4 Sec 31, T41n, R17e
Track Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam
Where does the data for Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Empire Mine Secondary Pond Dam.